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Daily Beast Reports, Natalie Harp's Personal Letters to Trump Revealed; FBI Foils Alleged ISIS-Inspired Plot to Bomb New York State Capitol; Soon, Day Five of Testimony in Tupac Shakur Murder Trial. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired August 21, 2026 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: New questions now for the White House after full letters are released written to the president from his aide, Natalie Harp, calling Trump her guardian and protector.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: An alleged ISIS-inspired plot to attack the state Capitol building in New York. How agents say they tracked down a woman who wanted to, quote, take out senators as they met.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: And two men stranded at sea for five days found floating inside a large cooler. No food, no water. See this unbelievable rescue.

I'm Sara Sidner with Kate Bolduan and John Berman. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: So, for the first time, these very personal letters written to President Trump by one of his closest aides are being revealed in full, as questions swirl about the influence and the level of influence of this young aide and what -- that she has in the White House. The Daily Beast obtained two letters, gushing letters, Natalie Harp wrote in 2023, either during or after a trip to Scotland and Ireland.

And one of them, reported by The New York Times' Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, and detailed in their book "Regime Change", Harp writes this: I never want to bring you anything but joy. I'm sorry I lost my focus. You are all that matters to me. I don't want to ever let you down. Thank you for being my guardian and protector in this life. And she signs off, with all my heart, Natalie.

In the other, Harp writes to the president the following. Here's the quote, please, when I fail, will you tell me? You have the absolute right to cuss me out if need be when I deserve it, because no one care -- no one knows or cares about me more. She closes with, to modify a classic, I could not have parted with you to anyone less worthy, and I will add, it is I who is unworthy, always, Natalie.

The White House responded to the Daily Beast report, calling Harp one of Trump's, quote, most loyal and hardest working aides.

CNN's Alayna Treene live at The White House. What are we expecting on this now?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Look, I think you're probably not going to hear a lot more from at least the White House official officially on this front. This statement that you just read that, of them supporting her as one of the most loyal and hardworking aides that the president has is the same statement they've been circulating all week.

I will note, though, of course, what we saw particularly with the very fierce and almost vehement defense of Natalie Harp from the White House earlier in the week, just immediately after the initial comments from Senator Jon Ossoff, who really kind of kicked off this conversation about the relationship Natalie Harp has with the president, a lot of the response ended up having an adverse effect, which was drawing more attention to this, and it's something I know that people in The White House have pointed out.

So I think the statement you got is likely what we're going to see, but I think clearly what these letters show in far more detail, as you mentioned -- of these letters previously coming out and reporting, but this is the first time we've seen them at least some of them, in full.

I think it just highlights the extent of their close connection, and really how much she relies on the president. I'd remind you that she credits Trump with saving her life. She has said in the past that she had suffered from bone cancer, and that it was his 2018 legislation that allowed her to receive experimental treatments to help her. She's never disclosed what those treatments were, but that is part of this connection that runs deep between them.

I also think it's important to know just how omnipresent Harp is in the president's life. Unlike, you know, in the past where you've seen even President Trump himself has had past staff secretaries or assistants, she's someone who's not outside the room, but actually inside the room. She's in almost all of the meetings, several of the meetings that the president has throughout the day.

She's also a very important channel of information for him. I'd note that, you know, there's times when she's the one who people, world leaders get in touch with if they feel like they can't reach the president in another way. She's someone who the president asks to reach out to people he's watching on television if he likes what they are saying.

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So she serves a very important role there. And then, of course, she's also messaging with him late into the night about social media posts.

So, they have a very close relationship. Obviously, she travels with him a lot, considered one of his body men, you know, in the term. So, a very important relationship, one that the president feels is very important, and others too, not only inside the White House, but outside the White House.

But I think this shows the extent of the closeness she feels to the president, and you're now seeing that in full with some of these letters being published.

BOLDUAN: Yes. I mean, all -- this all reminder to everyone, this kicked off and became a thing because Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff started making insinuations and attacks on the -- using this as a line of attack on the president on the campaign trail, and now we are here where we are at this moment.

It's good to see you, Alayna. Thank you so much. John?

BERMAN: All right. Breaking overnight, eight people are dead after a charter plane crashed in Western Alaska. The FAA says the flight departed Anchorage headed toward Cape Newenham. It went down at the airport there, an Air Force airstrip that provides access to a remote radar site.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it chartered the flight and that two of its employees were among the victims. One military only military and approved charter flights are allowed to land at that airport. Officials say the remote radar site nearby tracks aircraft in Alaska's airspace and along its borders.

The U.S. Air Force said, quote, this is a devastating loss for our military family and for the communities we serve. These individuals were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in demanding environment. The cause of this crash is not yet known. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, John. The FBI says it foiled an ISIS- inspired terror plot to blow up the New York State Capitol. Photos of the suspect's caught in a store and more on how all this went down.

And a disturbing new surveillance video of the moment a small plane crashes into a police helicopter. What investigators say happen leading up to this deadly collision.

And on the run, but taking a minute to stop for fuel, the video of a wild police chase and how this one ended up.

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SIDNER: This morning, a 35-year-old Albany woman is in custody and charged with plotting to attack the New York State Capitol to show support for ISIS. Authorities say Jessica Bowie planned to put a bomb inside a food delivery bag and then leave it at the State Capitol to kill lawmakers.

Investigators say she shaped her plans with undercover FBI informants, and that is what led to her arrest. Justice Department says this photo shows Bui purchasing several of the materials to make that explosive device.

CNN's Whitney Wild joining us now. Disturbing details in this. What are you learning this morning?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sara, the FBI is stressing here that she took several overt acts to carry out this attack. What we know, according to the FBI, is that Jessica Bowie had again pledged allegiance to the FBI. She did this in multiple recordings, and she conducted surveillance at the state capitol at least five times. And during those surveillance operations, she took dozens of photos.

As you had mentioned, she arranged to have an explosive device made to carry out this attack. Again, the plan here was to put it in a food delivery bag. She had hoped to take out half of the building, kill senators while they were inside, and do as much damage as possible.

She was radicalized online, according to the FBI, and then she began sharing her plans with an FBI informant in mid-July. Here's more from the FBI.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRAIG TREMAROLI, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: She told the source that she went from a little girl waving an American flag after 9/11 to now having stickers of the fallen towers. Folks, let that sink in.

Again, Ms. Bowie didn't just want to kill lawmakers, she wanted a complete disruption of our government. And after that, she planned to flee the country and one day come back to, quote, do more, such as New Year's Eve in Times Square, even stating she would come back to attack the White House and the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILD: Once the FBI had enough information, they moved swiftly. They made this arrest on Wednesday after Bowie met up with two informants in a car, paying $150 for an inert firearm, which she did not realize was inert ammunition, and one magazine. The informants also showed her an explosive device, also inert. When she exited the vehicle, that is when the FBI moved in.

She is now facing up to 20 years in prison, potentially a lifetime of supervised release, and, Sara, a fine of up to $250,000. Sara?

SIDNER: It is -- thank goodness that this plot was thwarted. Wow.

Thank you so much, Whitney Wild, great reporting from Chicago for you. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Some explosive allegations made in court. The man accused in the murder of Tupac Shakur says Sean Combs offered him a million dollars to kill Tupac back then.

And there's also new CNN reporting about the secrets that people are telling A.I. Here's one quote for you, I trust A.I. to tell me the truth more than most of the people around me.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BOLDUAN: Explosive allegations in court during the trial of the man accused in the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Duane Keefe D Davis, the only person ever charged in the murder of the hip hop legend, told the FBI that another hip hop star, Sean Combs, offered to pay him $1 million to kill Tupac and the CEO of Death Row Records, Suge Knight.

Testimony is set to resume hours from now. Yesterday, the prosecution played an hours-long audiotape of the defendant talking with the FBI in 2008 as part of a plea deal. Not only did he detail his own involvement in Tupac's murder, he said then, he had a lot to say about none other than Sean Combs himself.

CNN's Josh Campbell has the details.

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Day four of the trial of the man charged in connection with the murder of rap legend Tupac Shakur included audio played to the jury of the defendant in his own words, describing the night Shakur was shot in Las Vegas.

Prosecutors say Duane Davis, who has pleaded not guilty, previously met with police in 2008 for a recorded interview and discussed his alleged role in Shakur's killing back in 1996, which was allegedly done out of retribution for an earlier brawl that night between associates of competing street gangs.

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Prosecutors allege Davis, his nephew, Orlando Baby Lane Anderson, and two others located Shakur and rap producer Suge Knight riding in a black BMW near the Las Vegas strip and pulled alongside.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You did a U-turn, so then you pull alongside of it. You guys are in the car. So, you hand the gun to the backseat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I gave it to Dre, and Dre was like, no, and Lane's like, give it here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okay, Lane starts blasting. You say Suge looks over, he sees you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

I seen the bullet go in Suge's head. I thought he was dead. I thought he was dead. He went scraped him or something in the head or something.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, Tupac's trying to jump in the backseat. And what's Suge doing? Just ducking?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ducking. He couldn't really duck because he was too big, you know?

(END VIDEO CLIP) CAMPBELL: Now, Davis has given similar accounts in various media interviews over the years, and even wrote a tell-all book that included details of the incident.

But as his defense attorney outlined in opening statements this week, Davis has since claimed that he made up the story about his role in the incident, claiming he only made the assertions in order to make money off the story.

In the same police interview recording played to the jury on Thursday, Davis also alleged that disgraced and now incarcerated rap singer and producer Sean Diddy Combs had previously told Davis that he wanted Shakur and Suge Knight dead due to hostilities between their and Combs' respective groups.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you actually hear? What was the words -- the best you can remember of what he says?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (BLEEP), he said he would give us anything for them dudes' heads, you know? Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, in a 2016 media interview, Combs denied any involvement in the incident, and has never been charged in connection with the case. CNN reached out to his representatives for comment.

The trial of Duane Davis is expected to last several more weeks as the prosecution and defense present a long list of potential witnesses. We expect the jury will be played more audio from Davis' interviews with police when court resumes Friday morning.

Back to you.

BERMAN: All right. So, what a night in the Northeast, crazy storms here, including flashfloods, tornadoes, and images we almost never see. I saw like a water spout, a twister, in New York City.

All right, the mask-wearing man terrorizing people on the streets, he has now been identified. This morning, a manhunt is underway.

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BERMAN: All right. New signs this morning the battle for the Senate is getting even more competitive. The Cook Political Report moved the races in Texas and Iowa, two pretty red states, from lean Republican to toss-up.

Joining us now, Jackie Kucinich, the Washington bureau chief for The Boston Globe, the paper of record, and Alex Gangitano, White House reporter for Politico. And, Jackie, you know, Iowa, Texas, pretty red states, right? I mean, if they are pure toss-ups there, how good of a sign is that for Democrats?

JACKIE KUCINICH, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THE BOSTON GLOBE: It's certainly positive for Democrats, but there are different things going on in both these states. In Texas, this is what Republicans were afraid of when Ken Paxton ended up winning that, that primary against John Cornyn. We would be looking at a very different race.

Paxton's kind of uniquely vulnerable because of all of his scandals. And Talarico is a very strong opponent in that he is fundraising a lot, he's everywhere. So, that's what's going on in Texas.

When we go to Iowa, this is kind of ground zero for rising fertilizer costs, rising diesel costs. The tariffs have hit Iowa very hard, and we're seeing that impact in these races, and right there, as you mentioned, the Senate race. So, this is very much the headwinds that are facing Republicans hitting differently, but the same in both these states.

BERMAN: And if we can put that graphic back up again, Alex, of course, what needs to happen here is Democrats need to win four states, flip four states to take the Senate, unless they lose in Michigan, which, of course, is very close with Abdul El-Sayed there. If they lose Michigan, they would have to run the table on everything else. I guess this highlights how important Michigan is, among other things.

ALEX GANGITANO, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, POLITICO: That's exactly right. I've had Democrats talk to me about just that, that if they can, if they can focus on Michigan, if they can keep that seat blue, then they have some other wiggle room. But if that happens to flip, they need to win a Texas, they need to win an Iowa.

And they're excited about the prospects in Texas. The fact that was moved to a toss-up, that they see as a referendum on the president, his choices. He went ahead and endorsed Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn, which at the time was such a striking move, and now here they are at a toss-up situation for a seat.

Texas hasn't had a Democrat in the Senate since the '80s. Cornyn had been in the seat since the early 2000s. You know, these are some -- that would be a huge loss for Republicans. And then in Iowa, where Senator Ernst is a well-liked senator, works across the aisle at times, and now we see Ashley Hinson, a congresswoman, struggling there for a lot of the reasons why Jackie said.

BERMAN: Yes, Lloyd Bentsen is the answer to the trivia question, the Jeopardy question on Texas, the last Democratic senator there.

[07:30:05]

Alex, I was reading in Politico --

KUCINICH: You definitely want John on your team for that. BERMAN: I was reading.